In the spring, a six-person committee was formed to explore alternatives to the current senior citizen and veterans tax relief program.

As it stands, seniors or veterans qualify if they are 65 and make less than $20,000 a year; the limit is $30,000 for married couples. Participants must also live in town for more than 183 days a year and submit paperwork to the tax assessor's office every two years.

Those who meet the standards have their taxes frozen as of the date they qualify for the tax relief program.

There are 252 homeowners in the current program. They qualified for $360,000 in tax relief for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2004. The average tax relief under the program was $1,429. An additional $95,000 in tax relief was granted to seniors through a state program.

But the six-person committee found a number of flaws with the current program. For one thing, it's costly and cumbersome to administer, since the tax assessor's office has to deal with everyone's paperwork and verify their incomes every two years.

Also, it's inequitable. Two people with equivalent homes could be paying vastly different tax bills if they entered the tax relief program in different years.

Finally, the program is becoming unaffordable to the town. The cash value of the tax relief is growing and there is no maximum amount under the current law. That puts an added tax burden on residents who don't qualify under the program.

Among the solutions: Allowing all seniors and veterans to defer a portion of their property taxes until after they die or sell their home. The town would then collect the money due - plus interest - when the estate is settled.

Another idea is to simply reduce the yearly tax payments for seniors and veterans by a flat amount.

"We haven't zeroed in on a final program, but we have some definite ideas." said Dave Keefe, a member of the committee. "People were saying 'I have to move because I can't afford the taxes.' We're trying to avoid that."

Keefe said the committee wants a program that's easier to administer and more equitable. The hearing will allow committee members to get public input and take recommendations back to the board of selectmen.